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Age of the God Eater #1
Herald
A thousand years ago, humanity's greatest heroes killed God.
Across the land of Helesia, the iron grasp of the Godless Kings is failing. Demons stalk the deep forests, monsters break free of their prisons beneath the World Vein, and terrors of the old world rise again.
Deep in the wintry village of Riverden, Renira Washer lives the dreary life of a laundry girl, dreaming of excitement and adventure. But in her blood, hides a secret: the angels are not all gone.
When a stranger from her mother's past appears with a dire warning, Renira's peaceful life is shattered and she's thrown headfirst into a millennia old war between Heaven and earth.
Only the Herald can ring in the Fifth Age.
Only the Herald can bring the God back to life.
History is written in blood. The future is forged in holy fire.
Across the land of Helesia, the iron grasp of the Godless Kings is failing. Demons stalk the deep forests, monsters break free of their prisons beneath the World Vein, and terrors of the old world rise again.
Deep in the wintry village of Riverden, Renira Washer lives the dreary life of a laundry girl, dreaming of excitement and adventure. But in her blood, hides a secret: the angels are not all gone.
When a stranger from her mother's past appears with a dire warning, Renira's peaceful life is shattered and she's thrown headfirst into a millennia old war between Heaven and earth.
Only the Herald can ring in the Fifth Age.
Only the Herald can bring the God back to life.
History is written in blood. The future is forged in holy fire.
788 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2024
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
48 books1,801 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 27, 2025
Herald, or the entire God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes, is my pick for the best self-published fantasy books of 2024.
First, I will repeat what I said in my review of Demon and Deathless. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Herald first before reading Demon and Deathless, I am confident your reading experience of this 235,000 words long novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon and Deathless first. Yes, I did the reverse reading order. It is impossible to tell how I'd feel about Herald if I read it first before Demon and Deathless, but from my experience in this realm and reality, reading Demon and Deathless first enormously boost my enjoyment of Herald. I believe I have made the right decision when it comes to the reading order of the first phase of The God Eater Saga, and my instinct said I would give Herald a 4-star rating instead of 5 stars if I had read it first before the other two books.
A thousand years ago, humanity’s greatest heroes killed God.
Now, under the brutal rule of warrior-kings, the land of Helesia has fallen to chaos. Demons stalk the deep forests, monsters roam free of their prisons beneath the World Vein, and ancient terrors rise again. Renira Washer lives the dreary life of a laundry girl, dreaming of adventure. When a stranger from her mother’s past appears with a dire warning, Renira’s peaceful life is shattered, and she’s thrown headfirst into millennia old war between Heaven and Earth. In Renira’s blood, hides a secret: the angels are not all gone. Only the Herald can ring in the Fifth Age. Only the Herald can bring God back to life.
Picture: Orphus, The Archangel by Andrew Maleski
History is written in blood, but the future will be forged in holy fire. Demon is the survival and origin story of the now legendary Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their way to Heaven, and Herald is the coming of age epic fantasy story about Renira and her entanglement with deadly prophecy and surviving figures from Annals of the God Eater and Archive of the God Eater. It visits a lot of familiar fantasy tropes with the standard Rob J. Hayes’ twists. I don’t know about you, but for me, one of my favorite things about reading Hayes’ novels is the great characterizations and the over-the-top action sequences in his novels. And I mean really over-the-top battles reminiscent of reading manga or watching anime. This isn’t to say Herald is an anime-inspired novel like The Mortal Techniques series. It has angels, monsters, fantastical clashes of magic, and prophecies, but those factors are not exclusive to anime per se. That said, from the prologue and my past experiences with Hayes' books, I knew already what kind of epic-scale battles I would get from reading Herald, and I certainly got what I wanted in the middle and ending portion of the novel.
Before I talk about the action sequences, there’s one important element to be clear about first. Herald is not an action-packed novel, and the book is better for it. It has its fair share of skirmishes and small battles, but most of Herald is a slow-burn novel. Hayes took his time to develop Renira’s character development with the unlikely companion she met in her journey to fulfill her mission. As I mentioned, Herald is the main novel in the first phase of The God Eater Saga. As a book, the word count of Herald is bigger than Deathless and Demon combined. And I must repeat this statement again for several reasons: I wouldn’t have rated Herald this highly without reading Demon and Deathless first.
From my own experience and recommendation, the best way to enjoy Herald is to read this after you read Demon and Deathless first. Some readers will disagree with that suggestion, and I accept that. But this is my review and recommendation. There were more than many symbolisms, characters, dialogues, and world-building that were heightened because I had read the other two books in the first phase of The God Eater Saga. To give some examples, let’s begin with the deep, rich, and twisted history of the Hostain family. Dien Hostain, Ertide Hostain, Rikkan Hostain, or Emrik Hostain, and more. Meeting or hearing about these characters for the first time would not mean much to me if I hadn’t read Demon and Deathless first. The same also can be applied to the angels: Orphus, Armstar, Eleseth, Mathanial, and more. Once again, I am not saying you do not get to learn about them at all here. You will. But being familiar with them instantly since their first appearance in Herald enhanced a lot of their dialogues and actions for me.
Picture: Eleseth, The Light Bearer by Andrew Maleski
I will refrain from mentioning other character’s names in this review because I am unsure which one will be counted as spoilers due to the nature of the saga. I can, however, say this is a tale of sacrifice, bravery, knowledge, faith, and trust. The conundrum of which side to believe is a strong driving factor of the narrative, and once again, this point is strongly enriched after you read Demon and Deathless. Hayes is doing something special with The God Eater Saga, especially world-building-wise. Reading the first book of three series in the same world three times felt like it shouldn’t work, but it did. When I read Demon, I craved the sequel when I was done. The same situation happened with Deathless as well. But when I was reading Herald, not only did I want to read the sequel of Herald, but it also made me excited even further to read the continuation of Demon and Deathless. I’m so curious to find out all the details of the events in the time gap leading to the events of Herald.
If you’re a reader who demands satisfying and destructive action sequences to end your epic fantasy book, then you do not need to worry. Hayes has prepared a vividly devastating to close the last pulse-pounding chapters of Herald. Brimming with fire and blood, the over-the-top anime battles where magic, angels, humans, and weapons violently clash were breathtaking. Fire, blood, and lightning rampaged through every scene in the climax sequence. Plus, Hayes added a time limit to the stakes. I think this is a great storytelling decision. In the first book of a series, it is rare to see many protagonists get killed off. And I am not saying that happened in Herald. You have to find out for yourself. But my point is this. There is the argument in the first book of a series that the climax sequences can feel safer because we know the main characters will survive. Hayes has implemented a time limit to the mission Renira and her friends took, and it flared the tension in the final chapters. I loved it. When the build-up and the denotation are executed properly, like Herald did, this is a good way to revitalize the intensity that the climax sequence of the first book needed. Hayes accomplished that. And in this tale, while it may feel predictable at times, I do believe Hayes has prepared some surprises for us readers.
Herald and The God Eater Saga is definitively the incredible start of an ambitious and epic fantasy series. Rob J. Hayes is in the middle of crafting his magnum opus. I am genuinely anticipating the future of both The Mortal Techniques series and The God Eater Saga. I strongly believe when the three phases of The God Eater Sagas are completed, this will be one of those series readers can read over and over again and find something new. Connecting the mazes of histories, lore, and dynasties will be one incredible reading experience. Bring on the second phase of The God Eater Saga.
Picture: Herald by Felix Ortiz
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: 406Raider, Andrew. S, Andrew. W, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Bearded Book Beast, Ben, Benjamin, Biskit, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, James, Jason, Jeff, Jenn, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Melinda, Michael. S, Michael. T, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, Rando, RCT, Redmischief, Sally, Samiadji, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
"Books, I have long since learned, can enslave or liberate a person as surely can a sword. But often, with a book, the subject won't know the difference."
First, I will repeat what I said in my review of Demon and Deathless. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
I would see built again all which was torn down, made grander than before. The villages lost will rise into something greater. The people killed will give their names to a new generation of humans free from the shackles of thralldom. I would unite mankind into a single nation. An empire where human and angel can live together in peace and prosperity. —SAINT DIEN HOSTAIN. TALES FROM THE FIRST AGE
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Herald first before reading Demon and Deathless, I am confident your reading experience of this 235,000 words long novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon and Deathless first. Yes, I did the reverse reading order. It is impossible to tell how I'd feel about Herald if I read it first before Demon and Deathless, but from my experience in this realm and reality, reading Demon and Deathless first enormously boost my enjoyment of Herald. I believe I have made the right decision when it comes to the reading order of the first phase of The God Eater Saga, and my instinct said I would give Herald a 4-star rating instead of 5 stars if I had read it first before the other two books.
Honours only value is in keeping weak men in line by making them believe themselves strong. —ERTIDE HOSTAIN
A thousand years ago, humanity’s greatest heroes killed God.
Now, under the brutal rule of warrior-kings, the land of Helesia has fallen to chaos. Demons stalk the deep forests, monsters roam free of their prisons beneath the World Vein, and ancient terrors rise again. Renira Washer lives the dreary life of a laundry girl, dreaming of adventure. When a stranger from her mother’s past appears with a dire warning, Renira’s peaceful life is shattered, and she’s thrown headfirst into millennia old war between Heaven and Earth. In Renira’s blood, hides a secret: the angels are not all gone. Only the Herald can ring in the Fifth Age. Only the Herald can bring God back to life.
"It will soon be forgotten. The weak always forget their failings and rely too heavily on their successes. The strong learn from every failure and make pains not to repeat them."
Picture: Orphus, The Archangel by Andrew Maleski
History is written in blood, but the future will be forged in holy fire. Demon is the survival and origin story of the now legendary Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their way to Heaven, and Herald is the coming of age epic fantasy story about Renira and her entanglement with deadly prophecy and surviving figures from Annals of the God Eater and Archive of the God Eater. It visits a lot of familiar fantasy tropes with the standard Rob J. Hayes’ twists. I don’t know about you, but for me, one of my favorite things about reading Hayes’ novels is the great characterizations and the over-the-top action sequences in his novels. And I mean really over-the-top battles reminiscent of reading manga or watching anime. This isn’t to say Herald is an anime-inspired novel like The Mortal Techniques series. It has angels, monsters, fantastical clashes of magic, and prophecies, but those factors are not exclusive to anime per se. That said, from the prologue and my past experiences with Hayes' books, I knew already what kind of epic-scale battles I would get from reading Herald, and I certainly got what I wanted in the middle and ending portion of the novel.
“The First Age was an era of darkness. Humanity was a broken people, hiding in caves and forests. Demons roamed the world with savage impunity and made thralls of any they could capture. There was no belief. There was no faith. There was only fear and pain. —THE DIVINE TRUTH, AUTHOR UNKNOWN”
Before I talk about the action sequences, there’s one important element to be clear about first. Herald is not an action-packed novel, and the book is better for it. It has its fair share of skirmishes and small battles, but most of Herald is a slow-burn novel. Hayes took his time to develop Renira’s character development with the unlikely companion she met in her journey to fulfill her mission. As I mentioned, Herald is the main novel in the first phase of The God Eater Saga. As a book, the word count of Herald is bigger than Deathless and Demon combined. And I must repeat this statement again for several reasons: I wouldn’t have rated Herald this highly without reading Demon and Deathless first.
“A man can be neither born to the blade nor led to it. It is a calling, one that cries out to man's soul. —RIKKAN HOSTAIN”
From my own experience and recommendation, the best way to enjoy Herald is to read this after you read Demon and Deathless first. Some readers will disagree with that suggestion, and I accept that. But this is my review and recommendation. There were more than many symbolisms, characters, dialogues, and world-building that were heightened because I had read the other two books in the first phase of The God Eater Saga. To give some examples, let’s begin with the deep, rich, and twisted history of the Hostain family. Dien Hostain, Ertide Hostain, Rikkan Hostain, or Emrik Hostain, and more. Meeting or hearing about these characters for the first time would not mean much to me if I hadn’t read Demon and Deathless first. The same also can be applied to the angels: Orphus, Armstar, Eleseth, Mathanial, and more. Once again, I am not saying you do not get to learn about them at all here. You will. But being familiar with them instantly since their first appearance in Herald enhanced a lot of their dialogues and actions for me.
Picture: Eleseth, The Light Bearer by Andrew Maleski
I will refrain from mentioning other character’s names in this review because I am unsure which one will be counted as spoilers due to the nature of the saga. I can, however, say this is a tale of sacrifice, bravery, knowledge, faith, and trust. The conundrum of which side to believe is a strong driving factor of the narrative, and once again, this point is strongly enriched after you read Demon and Deathless. Hayes is doing something special with The God Eater Saga, especially world-building-wise. Reading the first book of three series in the same world three times felt like it shouldn’t work, but it did. When I read Demon, I craved the sequel when I was done. The same situation happened with Deathless as well. But when I was reading Herald, not only did I want to read the sequel of Herald, but it also made me excited even further to read the continuation of Demon and Deathless. I’m so curious to find out all the details of the events in the time gap leading to the events of Herald.
"A typical human appreciation for art. You think the word only applies to depictions on canvas. It is far more expansive than that. It is the expression of imagination to inspire emotion. Whether it take the form of a painting, or music, or a play, or a building. It is art. And if my tower had been completed it would have inspired such emotion that none who looked upon it would not be awed. Even Emrik understood that once. Perhaps more so than any other."
If you’re a reader who demands satisfying and destructive action sequences to end your epic fantasy book, then you do not need to worry. Hayes has prepared a vividly devastating to close the last pulse-pounding chapters of Herald. Brimming with fire and blood, the over-the-top anime battles where magic, angels, humans, and weapons violently clash were breathtaking. Fire, blood, and lightning rampaged through every scene in the climax sequence. Plus, Hayes added a time limit to the stakes. I think this is a great storytelling decision. In the first book of a series, it is rare to see many protagonists get killed off. And I am not saying that happened in Herald. You have to find out for yourself. But my point is this. There is the argument in the first book of a series that the climax sequences can feel safer because we know the main characters will survive. Hayes has implemented a time limit to the mission Renira and her friends took, and it flared the tension in the final chapters. I loved it. When the build-up and the denotation are executed properly, like Herald did, this is a good way to revitalize the intensity that the climax sequence of the first book needed. Hayes accomplished that. And in this tale, while it may feel predictable at times, I do believe Hayes has prepared some surprises for us readers.
“Sometimes bravery is naught but desperation wearing a fine mask. But true courage lies in the hearts of all men if they have but the opportunity to look for it. —SAINT DIEN HOSTAIN, FROM ROOK’S COMPENDIUM”
Herald and The God Eater Saga is definitively the incredible start of an ambitious and epic fantasy series. Rob J. Hayes is in the middle of crafting his magnum opus. I am genuinely anticipating the future of both The Mortal Techniques series and The God Eater Saga. I strongly believe when the three phases of The God Eater Sagas are completed, this will be one of those series readers can read over and over again and find something new. Connecting the mazes of histories, lore, and dynasties will be one incredible reading experience. Bring on the second phase of The God Eater Saga.
"I was created to kill… But I have long since discovered a passion for learning. There is something about books that makes apparent the fragility of wisdom. Wise words are urgent, unburdened by the need to sound prolific. The meaning is far more important than the delivery. But written wisdom can be structured, designed to stick with the mind. It contains within it the possibility of existing long beyond the lives of those it touches."
Picture: Herald by Felix Ortiz
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: 406Raider, Andrew. S, Andrew. W, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Bearded Book Beast, Ben, Benjamin, Biskit, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, James, Jason, Jeff, Jenn, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Melinda, Michael. S, Michael. T, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, Rando, RCT, Redmischief, Sally, Samiadji, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
May 13, 2024
Hayes can write.
This adventure quest story full of angels and humans and religion and different view points could have easily been fumbled but instead we scored a touch down.
I was absolutely obsessed with how he tackled such a nuanced discussion on faith. We see all sides. The good the ugly the whys the buts. It was so well rounded.
Also the way he can make me fully switch up on which side I'm supporting!!!
I do think the pacing was a little too long, it did drag in a few spots. I feel like it could have been a little more fast paced.
Also I read this after already reading demon and deathless. And I do recommend this reading order.
This adventure quest story full of angels and humans and religion and different view points could have easily been fumbled but instead we scored a touch down.
I was absolutely obsessed with how he tackled such a nuanced discussion on faith. We see all sides. The good the ugly the whys the buts. It was so well rounded.
Also the way he can make me fully switch up on which side I'm supporting!!!
I do think the pacing was a little too long, it did drag in a few spots. I feel like it could have been a little more fast paced.
Also I read this after already reading demon and deathless. And I do recommend this reading order.
January 3, 2025
5.0 stars—-
Herald follows Renira as she meets an angel and realizes adventures aren’t always fun. There’s some complicated lore and history in this series which I loved, the angels were interesting and complex, but the antagonists were the highlight for me. The Immortal Godkiller King Emrik has transformed since his story in Deathless (set 1000 back from Herald), and become a tyrant that will stop at nothing to kill the remaining angels. Two of Emrik’s children also have their own chapters where they utilize powers they obtained from consuming angel flesh. This makes for some interesting action scenes.
There were only a few PoVs early on, but more are slowly introduced as the story expands. Similarity to the lore of “The War Eternal” series, Hayes sprinkles mysteries revealed at the right moments about the lore that make the world deeper.
Hayes is one of my favorite indie authors and I was excited to help fund his Kickstarter for the first books of the Godeater Series. The series, (three sets of trilogies) is imaginative and dark. Herald is the longest, being a 700+ page novel, but Deathless and Demon are both closer to 200 pages each. I started Herald briefly before finding 3 short stories in The God Eater Saga, so I read them first. Two of the three short stories came with the Kickstarter but the Last Sentinel is on the author’s website. They greatly add to the world-building and bleak atmosphere that is common throughout most of the series.
The Preacher - 4.0 stars
The Edge of Night - 4.5 stars
The Last Sentinel - 4.0 stars
All three were essentially horror, but there’s fantasy elements mixed throughout. An immortal king, fallen angels, a handful of Terrors with unique abilities that were created by God, and some Abominations for good measure.
The Preacher is a giant “man” with his eyes missing who is mysterious as he is odorous.
The Edge of Night is straight out of nightmares, with a handy plague coming just in time.
The Last Sentinel is heartbreaking and harder to make a pun about. But the Sentinel is baddass and is my favorite character in the three short stories.
These were all under 50 pages individually, but got me even more excited for the main series of nine novels coming out. From what Hayes has said on his Patreon, he plans to write more short stories in the universe as it seems like this series is his main focus.
I also saw Hayes has teased another Mortal Techniques short story (Blood Brothers Beyond) has been published, so there’s a lot of look forward to in the future.
Herald follows Renira as she meets an angel and realizes adventures aren’t always fun. There’s some complicated lore and history in this series which I loved, the angels were interesting and complex, but the antagonists were the highlight for me. The Immortal Godkiller King Emrik has transformed since his story in Deathless (set 1000 back from Herald), and become a tyrant that will stop at nothing to kill the remaining angels. Two of Emrik’s children also have their own chapters where they utilize powers they obtained from consuming angel flesh. This makes for some interesting action scenes.
There were only a few PoVs early on, but more are slowly introduced as the story expands. Similarity to the lore of “The War Eternal” series, Hayes sprinkles mysteries revealed at the right moments about the lore that make the world deeper.
Hayes is one of my favorite indie authors and I was excited to help fund his Kickstarter for the first books of the Godeater Series. The series, (three sets of trilogies) is imaginative and dark. Herald is the longest, being a 700+ page novel, but Deathless and Demon are both closer to 200 pages each. I started Herald briefly before finding 3 short stories in The God Eater Saga, so I read them first. Two of the three short stories came with the Kickstarter but the Last Sentinel is on the author’s website. They greatly add to the world-building and bleak atmosphere that is common throughout most of the series.
The Preacher - 4.0 stars
The Edge of Night - 4.5 stars
The Last Sentinel - 4.0 stars
All three were essentially horror, but there’s fantasy elements mixed throughout. An immortal king, fallen angels, a handful of Terrors with unique abilities that were created by God, and some Abominations for good measure.
The Preacher is a giant “man” with his eyes missing who is mysterious as he is odorous.
The Edge of Night is straight out of nightmares, with a handy plague coming just in time.
The Last Sentinel is heartbreaking and harder to make a pun about. But the Sentinel is baddass and is my favorite character in the three short stories.
These were all under 50 pages individually, but got me even more excited for the main series of nine novels coming out. From what Hayes has said on his Patreon, he plans to write more short stories in the universe as it seems like this series is his main focus.
I also saw Hayes has teased another Mortal Techniques short story (Blood Brothers Beyond) has been published, so there’s a lot of look forward to in the future.
July 26, 2024
I liked this and liked how it brought everything together. However, I did feel like the pacing was incredibly slow, and it needed to be several hundred pages shorter. I loved the ending, the pacing of the last 30% was great. I loved the conversations about good and evil/right and wrong/human and monster and how not everything has a right answer. I just wish we had not had the same conversations and scenes multiple times over. I think if this had been tightened up, I would have loved it more.
October 10, 2024
Really great epic fantasy. Highly recommend.
November 14, 2024
Herald by Rob J Hayes is the first epic story in a new series. It's a whole series of 3 series, all interconnected, but I was told by the author this one was the best start. You apparently can read each series on its own, but if you are like me and really want a reading order, start here.
I LOVED this book! It has everything.
* A deep history, and mythology - even more so in the other series as I understand.
* Likeable young characters with a good coming of age story.
* Characters as old as dirt. Maybe older.
* Friendships and betrayals.
* Bad villains who you can still kinda relate to - the best villains there are.
* Characters who surprise you with who they really are. I love it when they feel organic and yet manage to catch me off guard.
* Mysteries, twists and turns.
* Adventure, action and thrilling fight scenes.
* Slow and thought provoking moments.
* Banter and humour for a nice balance.
I was immediately drawn into the story, and really blew through the whole, rather big, book in no time at all, when I didn't even have much time to read or listen.
I can't recommend it highly enough, and can't wait to delve into the others!
I LOVED this book! It has everything.
* A deep history, and mythology - even more so in the other series as I understand.
* Likeable young characters with a good coming of age story.
* Characters as old as dirt. Maybe older.
* Friendships and betrayals.
* Bad villains who you can still kinda relate to - the best villains there are.
* Characters who surprise you with who they really are. I love it when they feel organic and yet manage to catch me off guard.
* Mysteries, twists and turns.
* Adventure, action and thrilling fight scenes.
* Slow and thought provoking moments.
* Banter and humour for a nice balance.
I was immediately drawn into the story, and really blew through the whole, rather big, book in no time at all, when I didn't even have much time to read or listen.
I can't recommend it highly enough, and can't wait to delve into the others!
April 26, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
I’ll cut right to the chase: Herald is a bloody masterpiece. In crafting his largest-scale work to date, Rob J. Hayes has successfully laid the groundwork for what will be held to the same heights as modern classics like John Gwynne’s Faithful and the Fallen series.
The first in the main series of the God Eater Saga, Herald picks up a thousand years after the events of Deathless and the rest of the Archive of the God Eater, when God has long since been killed, all but ten angels have been slain over the last millennia, and Emrik Hostain, grandson of the earlier series’ monarchial protagonist Ertide Hostain, rules over the land of Helesia with an immortal and bloody grip, mercilessly hunting the remaining angels and killing any who still cling to their faith in the long-dead God.
Meanwhile, in the backwater village of Riverden, Renira Washer, a mere laundry girl, receives an unexpected visitor from her mother’s past, one who will not only lift her from her mundane life and venture into the outside world, but who will also irrevocably change her life forever.
And not for the better. All semblance of Renira’s peaceful life soon becomes a distant memory, and the path before her is one swathed in blood and engulfed in fear, betrayal, and a destiny she did not ask for.
I’ve sung the praises of Hayes’ God Eater Saga over the course of the previous “book ones,” and as great a read both entries were, they were mere stepping stones to what Hayes has built in Herald. This is an immaculate work, featuring wonderfully developed and multi-dimensional characters, heavy emotions, pulse-pounding action, and elaborate twists. This is a story carved from the heaven-and-earth or angels-versus-demons tropes of classic fantasy, but given a modern coat of paint that allows it to shine even brighter than the stories which preceded it.
While at its core, this is a classic coming-of-age tale, it is set against a backdrop of a world beset by war, paranoia, censorship, and outright fascism. These themes are explored beautifully in a way that makes you absolutely detest the villains and root for the heroes, while at the same time fully understanding their motivations. There is no black-and-white dichotomy in place here, and each character has their own flaws that make them feel entirely real. There is a hopelessness and resigned despair permeating through the pages that gives it heavy emotional weight, even in the halcyon days of the opening chapters, whether from Renira’s life being turned upside down from the beginning of the novel, or the millennium of anguish experienced by the angels who are struggling to endure Emrik’s ongoing crusade.
The twist with the God Eater revolves around humanity being able to gain the abilities of angels by consuming them, and that presents an interesting approach to divine power – immortality, inhuman strength, enhanced healing, and supernatural inclinations have long been within grasp, but held only by the Hostain dynasty. Having access to this cache of divine power allows Hayes to explore the depths of the human condition to varying extremes: on one hand, it displays the extent to which one can desire to hold onto power while also exploring the personal pitfalls of immortality; and on the other hand, he shows the lengths someone would be willing to go just to help those dear to them, even if it means outright betraying others to whom they are close. It’s a concept that, on paper, sounded cool enough, and in execution, was downright fantastic.
And all of this is lifted up by memorable characters who explode off the page. No motivation felt forced, each interaction felt meaningful, and not a moment was wasted with these characters, whether during the bloody action sequences or during the more subdued conversations. When it comes to strong character work, Hayes is in a league of his own, and this is his craft honed to absolute perfection.
Herald is epic fantasy distilled into its most “reading one more chapter before bed until you realize it’s 2 in the morning.” I absolutely loved my time with this, and I cannot wait for the collection of “book twos” to release. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while, and I can say with certainty that Herald will be standing tall amongst my favorite reads at year’s end.
I’ll cut right to the chase: Herald is a bloody masterpiece. In crafting his largest-scale work to date, Rob J. Hayes has successfully laid the groundwork for what will be held to the same heights as modern classics like John Gwynne’s Faithful and the Fallen series.
The first in the main series of the God Eater Saga, Herald picks up a thousand years after the events of Deathless and the rest of the Archive of the God Eater, when God has long since been killed, all but ten angels have been slain over the last millennia, and Emrik Hostain, grandson of the earlier series’ monarchial protagonist Ertide Hostain, rules over the land of Helesia with an immortal and bloody grip, mercilessly hunting the remaining angels and killing any who still cling to their faith in the long-dead God.
Meanwhile, in the backwater village of Riverden, Renira Washer, a mere laundry girl, receives an unexpected visitor from her mother’s past, one who will not only lift her from her mundane life and venture into the outside world, but who will also irrevocably change her life forever.
And not for the better. All semblance of Renira’s peaceful life soon becomes a distant memory, and the path before her is one swathed in blood and engulfed in fear, betrayal, and a destiny she did not ask for.
I’ve sung the praises of Hayes’ God Eater Saga over the course of the previous “book ones,” and as great a read both entries were, they were mere stepping stones to what Hayes has built in Herald. This is an immaculate work, featuring wonderfully developed and multi-dimensional characters, heavy emotions, pulse-pounding action, and elaborate twists. This is a story carved from the heaven-and-earth or angels-versus-demons tropes of classic fantasy, but given a modern coat of paint that allows it to shine even brighter than the stories which preceded it.
While at its core, this is a classic coming-of-age tale, it is set against a backdrop of a world beset by war, paranoia, censorship, and outright fascism. These themes are explored beautifully in a way that makes you absolutely detest the villains and root for the heroes, while at the same time fully understanding their motivations. There is no black-and-white dichotomy in place here, and each character has their own flaws that make them feel entirely real. There is a hopelessness and resigned despair permeating through the pages that gives it heavy emotional weight, even in the halcyon days of the opening chapters, whether from Renira’s life being turned upside down from the beginning of the novel, or the millennium of anguish experienced by the angels who are struggling to endure Emrik’s ongoing crusade.
The twist with the God Eater revolves around humanity being able to gain the abilities of angels by consuming them, and that presents an interesting approach to divine power – immortality, inhuman strength, enhanced healing, and supernatural inclinations have long been within grasp, but held only by the Hostain dynasty. Having access to this cache of divine power allows Hayes to explore the depths of the human condition to varying extremes: on one hand, it displays the extent to which one can desire to hold onto power while also exploring the personal pitfalls of immortality; and on the other hand, he shows the lengths someone would be willing to go just to help those dear to them, even if it means outright betraying others to whom they are close. It’s a concept that, on paper, sounded cool enough, and in execution, was downright fantastic.
And all of this is lifted up by memorable characters who explode off the page. No motivation felt forced, each interaction felt meaningful, and not a moment was wasted with these characters, whether during the bloody action sequences or during the more subdued conversations. When it comes to strong character work, Hayes is in a league of his own, and this is his craft honed to absolute perfection.
Herald is epic fantasy distilled into its most “reading one more chapter before bed until you realize it’s 2 in the morning.” I absolutely loved my time with this, and I cannot wait for the collection of “book twos” to release. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while, and I can say with certainty that Herald will be standing tall amongst my favorite reads at year’s end.
November 6, 2024
This is epic fantasy at its finest! The world building, the characters, the story.... just 🤌🤌
I was literally hooked from the opening paragraph of the prologue, and knew Hayes had screwed up my impending tbr list. So glad for it!
Cant wait to dive in to the other books 1s!
All the stars
I was literally hooked from the opening paragraph of the prologue, and knew Hayes had screwed up my impending tbr list. So glad for it!
Cant wait to dive in to the other books 1s!
All the stars
November 10, 2024
"Grow up!" Armstar snarled. "Open your eyes and see the world how it really is instead of how you wish it could be." Renira staggered back from the venom in his voice... and continued to completely ignore his advice, not growing one bit as a character by the end of this book.
I've been looking forward to this book since I heard about it. Supported the Kickstarter, absolutely loved the two short stories that came along and in the end this book plunged me into the biggest reading slump I've experienced in 5 years. I couldn't read two chapters back to back and most are like ten pages long or read anything else.
But the lore is awesome. I was eating up every word about the angels, the crusade against heaven and the hunts. So I endured... But the execution is poor. If the book was 250 pages shorter it could work. But nothing is happening throughout most of the book.
Main characters are on the run and constantly travel. Then we switch to POV of the pursuers and back and forth it goes. I had my worries when it took nearly 200 pages to get going and through the first forest. This needed a stricter editor or more self-aware author but it's also apparent to me that my opinion on this book doesn't seem to be the consensus among the readers.
This is almost traditional fantasy epic novel in the style of LOTR or Wheel of Time although towards the end it seems it plans to go a different direction. The short stories, one of which was even released during the Kickstarter, were 5/5* horrors.
It was infuriating how naive the main character is and basically prevented me from liking her. Imagine the most bland goody two-shoes protagonist you can and multiply it. Like Rand from The Eye of the World but with lobotomy. She barely asks questions just goes on risking her life for people she barely knows and I'm sorry, faith can do a lot, but this was getting ridiculous. She travels with them for months but doesn't ask about anything substantial. If she does the angels tell her "now it's not the time to talk about it" or "you'll understand later" and she just goes along with it, traveling more weeks without ever bringing the stuff up or demanding a straight answer. Zero agency. EVEN AFTER ANOTHER ANGEL WARNS HER!!! Don't get me started on
I liked that both sides of the conflict think they're righteous, although that ending really left me wondering if it's true. But at least for most of the book it appears that both sides think they're the good guys. Looking back that twist in the end was obvious but since I had my timeline of ages messed up in my head I didn't realize it was possible - so it worked for me. All the red herrings were also well done.
There is a great book somewhere within it, one I would have loved to love but the length and dullness of most of it ruins it. I might give a chance to the other shorter novels (or novellas?) since I already have those too...
I've been looking forward to this book since I heard about it. Supported the Kickstarter, absolutely loved the two short stories that came along and in the end this book plunged me into the biggest reading slump I've experienced in 5 years. I couldn't read two chapters back to back and most are like ten pages long or read anything else.
But the lore is awesome. I was eating up every word about the angels, the crusade against heaven and the hunts. So I endured... But the execution is poor. If the book was 250 pages shorter it could work. But nothing is happening throughout most of the book.
Main characters are on the run and constantly travel. Then we switch to POV of the pursuers and back and forth it goes. I had my worries when it took nearly 200 pages to get going and through the first forest. This needed a stricter editor or more self-aware author but it's also apparent to me that my opinion on this book doesn't seem to be the consensus among the readers.
This is almost traditional fantasy epic novel in the style of LOTR or Wheel of Time although towards the end it seems it plans to go a different direction. The short stories, one of which was even released during the Kickstarter, were 5/5* horrors.
It was infuriating how naive the main character is and basically prevented me from liking her. Imagine the most bland goody two-shoes protagonist you can and multiply it. Like Rand from The Eye of the World but with lobotomy. She barely asks questions just goes on risking her life for people she barely knows and I'm sorry, faith can do a lot, but this was getting ridiculous. She travels with them for months but doesn't ask about anything substantial. If she does the angels tell her "now it's not the time to talk about it" or "you'll understand later" and she just goes along with it, traveling more weeks without ever bringing the stuff up or demanding a straight answer. Zero agency. EVEN AFTER ANOTHER ANGEL WARNS HER!!! Don't get me started on
I liked that both sides of the conflict think they're righteous, although that ending really left me wondering if it's true. But at least for most of the book it appears that both sides think they're the good guys. Looking back that twist in the end was obvious but since I had my timeline of ages messed up in my head I didn't realize it was possible - so it worked for me. All the red herrings were also well done.
There is a great book somewhere within it, one I would have loved to love but the length and dullness of most of it ruins it. I might give a chance to the other shorter novels (or novellas?) since I already have those too...
September 4, 2024
Wow! I am kicking myself for waiting this long to start this bloody Epic! Mr Hayes, you sir have my full attention now and I though may not be emotionally prepared...I am blown away with this story of "Good" and "Evil" and absolutely can't wait to continue!! 🤯🔥
Welcome to the Godeater Saga! Book 1 of the main Saga "Herald", Hayes does a brilliant job of pulling your emotions and loyalties in both directions of right and wrong, truth and lies so many times during this first entry I almost needed to stop and second guess myself on multiple occasions. The depth in the beliefs of both sides to this religious romp through brutality is absolutely mind blowing. I'm not a religious person myself and this had me doing some serious thinking...well done Rob, you sneaky warrior of the penmanship! 😈🍻
Grand and Epic are the examples of world building that come to mind when reading this starting book. The scale of this world and it's locations are vivid, sprawling, expansive and Godly! The amount of detail and travel we are exposed to in Herald has me "trying" to wrap my mind around the full scope we will be introduced to by the final entry of this epic. This is scaling seen in Sanderson, Tolkien, Quaintrell, Cahill size worlds! 💪
Character depth is on par with the grandeur we got with the world building, these characters will have you screaming in anger and shouting with triumph! Just when you think you have your side picked in this wild ride...it is completely turned on it's head and you are pivoting to reset your allegiance! The characters are as grand and as epic as the story being told, but somehow Hayes melds them all in seamlessly and you can't get enough.
The pacing is something I have seen referenced in reviews for Herald, both good and bad. I myself found it near perfect to drive home the un-effing-real ending we are blasted with! The twist in this story for the ages, delivered in the final quarter of this entry had me pausing to think back, to see if I should have seen it coming ...bottom line, nope...that's how great Hayes was at crafting it! Well done sir, well done! 🍻
4.5⭐ it is for me with Godeater book 1 "Herald"! I am diving right into "Deathless" and "Demon" because believe me, you will not want this Epic to stop! Look into your very souls, trust your beliefs and stand your ground... Angels and Monsters can come in many believable, awe inspiring...and tasty forms! 😏😈🔥
Welcome to the Godeater Saga! Book 1 of the main Saga "Herald", Hayes does a brilliant job of pulling your emotions and loyalties in both directions of right and wrong, truth and lies so many times during this first entry I almost needed to stop and second guess myself on multiple occasions. The depth in the beliefs of both sides to this religious romp through brutality is absolutely mind blowing. I'm not a religious person myself and this had me doing some serious thinking...well done Rob, you sneaky warrior of the penmanship! 😈🍻
Grand and Epic are the examples of world building that come to mind when reading this starting book. The scale of this world and it's locations are vivid, sprawling, expansive and Godly! The amount of detail and travel we are exposed to in Herald has me "trying" to wrap my mind around the full scope we will be introduced to by the final entry of this epic. This is scaling seen in Sanderson, Tolkien, Quaintrell, Cahill size worlds! 💪
Character depth is on par with the grandeur we got with the world building, these characters will have you screaming in anger and shouting with triumph! Just when you think you have your side picked in this wild ride...it is completely turned on it's head and you are pivoting to reset your allegiance! The characters are as grand and as epic as the story being told, but somehow Hayes melds them all in seamlessly and you can't get enough.
The pacing is something I have seen referenced in reviews for Herald, both good and bad. I myself found it near perfect to drive home the un-effing-real ending we are blasted with! The twist in this story for the ages, delivered in the final quarter of this entry had me pausing to think back, to see if I should have seen it coming ...bottom line, nope...that's how great Hayes was at crafting it! Well done sir, well done! 🍻
4.5⭐ it is for me with Godeater book 1 "Herald"! I am diving right into "Deathless" and "Demon" because believe me, you will not want this Epic to stop! Look into your very souls, trust your beliefs and stand your ground... Angels and Monsters can come in many believable, awe inspiring...and tasty forms! 😏😈🔥
August 16, 2024
Herald by Rob J. Hayes was the first of the three new Godless books that I had a chance to dive into. This was at the recommendation of the author for reading order. If you aren't familiar this was a Kickstarter project where Rob released the first book of three different trilogies. I only held off on this due to knowing it was the largest of the three by a considerable amount and I've had several other rather large reads lately as well. I finally took the plunge in late July and I wasn't disappointed.
In my opinion the pacing was right in the sweet spot with this one. It didn't seem too slow or fast. I did opt for the audiobook version to help get this one off of my queue and read. I believe this was my first listen of narration by Eva Kaminsky and it honestly didn't take long for me to settle in and enjoy her storytelling. This doesn't happen very often for me and new to me narrators. I often need to restart an audiobook a couple of times before I can dial in with them. That wasn't the case with Eva's performance. She did an excellent job bringing this epic story to life. I did emersion read this one a few times with the audio playing while I followed along visually with the Kindle version. I'm glad that I did this as there are not only a ton of characters but I would have not gotten the spelling right on several of them if I only listened.
The world building was epic to say the least. If this is only the beginning of this world we are in for a true treat by the time all three of the trilogies are finished. I will not try and begin to list the various aspects to this world but it's vast. The most intriguing feature is the relationship between the divine, immortals and mortals in this world. That alone sets quite the stage. Then add the different geographical regions, political intrigue, and there is plenty of meat to chew on here. This is not a happy fairytale type of world. It's dark, depressing and just barely hanging onto hope.
The character development was also done very well. I already mentioned there were a lot of characters in Herald. With that, comes a lot of character arcs to follow as well. Between Renira as our main protagonist, the angels we follow closely and the Hostain family in general, all kept things entertaining and interesting throughout the entire book. There is so much depth to the characters and their history being revealed in book one. There are some great twists involving our characters so keep your head on a swivel with this read.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to say this was my overall favorite by Rob J. Hayes at this point but it's certainly in the conversation. This has got me thinking about this and I should spend some time looking back at all of the books I've read of this author and maybe create a top 5. That will be for another post though. I'm sure you can tell I loved this book.
As far as recommendations, if you like those epic and gritty fantasy worlds with depth to the world, the characters and the histories, do yourself a favor and pick up of copy of Herald. As I said, this is only the beginning as it's the first book one of the three trilogies all set in this amazing world.
In my opinion the pacing was right in the sweet spot with this one. It didn't seem too slow or fast. I did opt for the audiobook version to help get this one off of my queue and read. I believe this was my first listen of narration by Eva Kaminsky and it honestly didn't take long for me to settle in and enjoy her storytelling. This doesn't happen very often for me and new to me narrators. I often need to restart an audiobook a couple of times before I can dial in with them. That wasn't the case with Eva's performance. She did an excellent job bringing this epic story to life. I did emersion read this one a few times with the audio playing while I followed along visually with the Kindle version. I'm glad that I did this as there are not only a ton of characters but I would have not gotten the spelling right on several of them if I only listened.
The world building was epic to say the least. If this is only the beginning of this world we are in for a true treat by the time all three of the trilogies are finished. I will not try and begin to list the various aspects to this world but it's vast. The most intriguing feature is the relationship between the divine, immortals and mortals in this world. That alone sets quite the stage. Then add the different geographical regions, political intrigue, and there is plenty of meat to chew on here. This is not a happy fairytale type of world. It's dark, depressing and just barely hanging onto hope.
The character development was also done very well. I already mentioned there were a lot of characters in Herald. With that, comes a lot of character arcs to follow as well. Between Renira as our main protagonist, the angels we follow closely and the Hostain family in general, all kept things entertaining and interesting throughout the entire book. There is so much depth to the characters and their history being revealed in book one. There are some great twists involving our characters so keep your head on a swivel with this read.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to say this was my overall favorite by Rob J. Hayes at this point but it's certainly in the conversation. This has got me thinking about this and I should spend some time looking back at all of the books I've read of this author and maybe create a top 5. That will be for another post though. I'm sure you can tell I loved this book.
As far as recommendations, if you like those epic and gritty fantasy worlds with depth to the world, the characters and the histories, do yourself a favor and pick up of copy of Herald. As I said, this is only the beginning as it's the first book one of the three trilogies all set in this amazing world.
November 7, 2024
Another great Rob J Hayes book.
We follow Renira who is a young girl living in a little town and is dragged into a terrible battle between angels and the king who is trying to remove them
From existence.
This book is steeped in some of the best lore I have read and after finishing book 1 it now makes sense why there are three books all released at once as each one is set in a different era (1000s of years apart)
Angels have power but if a human kills one and eats them they get their powers and also extends their lives. It’s pretty dark in parts and you do feel characters are always at risk throughout the book which adds to the entertainment.
My only criticism is that the pacing is a little slow mid book and I found it a bit of a chore but the overall story, lore and the ending (which is superb) make up for it if you can power through !!
We follow Renira who is a young girl living in a little town and is dragged into a terrible battle between angels and the king who is trying to remove them
From existence.
This book is steeped in some of the best lore I have read and after finishing book 1 it now makes sense why there are three books all released at once as each one is set in a different era (1000s of years apart)
Angels have power but if a human kills one and eats them they get their powers and also extends their lives. It’s pretty dark in parts and you do feel characters are always at risk throughout the book which adds to the entertainment.
My only criticism is that the pacing is a little slow mid book and I found it a bit of a chore but the overall story, lore and the ending (which is superb) make up for it if you can power through !!
December 22, 2024
I decided to read this saga comprised of three trilogies in the order recommended by the author Rob J. Hayes, so I started with "Herald", the first book in the "Age of God Eater".
If you love reimagined classic tropes, "Herald" is a great example of that. We have a potential chosen one, a quest full of danger, a Medieval European inspired world ruled by a ruthless king and some morally gray heroic figures.
In a world where God has been killed by humankind and his remaining angels are hunted down for the properties of their blood and flesh there is still some faith and possibly resistance in hiding.
The angels imagined by Rob J. Hayes have similarities with the Greek gods and with the angels from Christian lore, but in the same time feel unique in their own ways.
I appreciated the discussions around persecuted faith and the desire to express your faith freely, but also the underlying themes of not being blinded by doctrine or veneration of a figurehead.
There were a few instances of repetition of information that was already revealed and a few too many times the main heroine does an obsessive action, clutching an amulet, but otherwise the pacing of "Herald" managed to keep me captivated and I enjoyed this reading experience.
This being my first work by the author I was pleasantly surprised by how well the conclusion was executed: a resolution and also motivation for the next installment.
You can now support my passion for books here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
If you love reimagined classic tropes, "Herald" is a great example of that. We have a potential chosen one, a quest full of danger, a Medieval European inspired world ruled by a ruthless king and some morally gray heroic figures.
In a world where God has been killed by humankind and his remaining angels are hunted down for the properties of their blood and flesh there is still some faith and possibly resistance in hiding.
The angels imagined by Rob J. Hayes have similarities with the Greek gods and with the angels from Christian lore, but in the same time feel unique in their own ways.
I appreciated the discussions around persecuted faith and the desire to express your faith freely, but also the underlying themes of not being blinded by doctrine or veneration of a figurehead.
There were a few instances of repetition of information that was already revealed and a few too many times the main heroine does an obsessive action, clutching an amulet, but otherwise the pacing of "Herald" managed to keep me captivated and I enjoyed this reading experience.
This being my first work by the author I was pleasantly surprised by how well the conclusion was executed: a resolution and also motivation for the next installment.
You can now support my passion for books here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
March 31, 2024
Classic style epic fantasy in terms of structure, but with more than enough originality to make it stand out, Rob J Hayes has written a book with interesting and complex characters, ambiguity regarding their motivations, questions upon questions regarding the world history, the lore, what is and what is NOT actually the truth and how it impacted the present. The classic format is used effectively as a starting point and crutch in order to explore a much more nuanced take on the chosen one trope. I don't want to say more, because what really makes this book stand out is the plot and all of its mysteries. (I'd like to add that the action is fantastic in this book) The only things keeping it from being a 5 star read for me is sometimes the prose gets a little repetitive and the middle part of the book, while still engaging, did drag pretty heavily for me and relied on a few character tropes that didn't work for me, but apart from that, this book is quite fantastic and worth reading.
4.5/5 stars
4.5/5 stars
May 23, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
The God Eater Saga is an ambitious project that Rob J Hayes describes as a trilogy of trilogies. Each trilogy is set in a different Age, with their stories relatively self-contained. But, if you want to experience the truly epic scope of the sage, you’d want to read all three trilogies.
Age of the God Eater is the main trilogy of the lot (going by the word count). Set in the last days of the Fourth Age, Herald follows young Renira who is forced to accompany a motley crew of angels, heretics and survivors who are on a mission to ring in the Fifth Age. What’s at stake? The rebirth of God, and the downfall of the Godless King.
I decided to read the saga in reverse chronology, so I can feel the impact of each discovery I make in the past sagas. So, Herald is my first venture into the world of God Eater.
WHAT I LIKED:
Herald reads like a classic fantasy tale. A typical hero’s journey, Herald starts from the POV of an everywoman—Renira. We read in horror as her world spirals out of control when she is recruited to guide a Fallen Angel, Armstar, through the forest. What follows is a series of revelations, world expansion, and lore-building that does a fine job of setting up the larger saga.
As the story progresses, you realise this is far from classic fantasy. Expectations are subverted, the ground beneath your feet is snatched and you’re thrown into a grimdark reality that is neither black nor white. You can’t take anything at face value. While you see the majority of the story from Renira’s POV, you also get Emrik’s POV; he’s the God Eater, an immortal king who has killed God, killed many of his angels, and devoured their flesh.
Hayes has balanced these perspectives so well that it’s hard to decide which of the group is the good guys, and which are the villainous demons. Renira’s POV will almost convince you of one side, but Emrik’s POV will sow enough doubt to keep you guessing till the end. That greying of sides is a huge part of why I enjoyed this book. Even though I hadn’t set my mind on who to support, I was left with my jaw hanging when I read the climax sequence. Seriously, it was one of the most mind-blowing things I’ve read this year.
In addition to that, we see so much of the world across this adventure. Each episode expands on the world, giving you glimpses of Ages passed. From tableaus depicting God’s grandeur to remnants of the Godless Kings’ Crusades, to stories and accounts from both sides, Hayes has crafted a world that takes inspiration from Christian mythos, blending it with dark Berserk-like imagery. Now add to the mix a LOTR-like adventure and you get Herald.
The characters were a hit or miss, to be honest. I didn’t exactly like Renira, nor was I able to root for Armstar, Eleseth, Sun, or even Emrik for that matter. However, I found each of their stories very compelling. Enough that I wanted to know where their arcs are headed, and what everything is building up to. I especially loved Armstar and Emrik’s arcs. Hayes makes them both very unlikable in the start, but as the story progresses, their roles become clearer and what they represent in the grander scheme of things is something that is sure to make you feel mind-blown. The same goes for Sun and Borik. I can’t wait to see what Hayes has planned for those two.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
I really did not like Aesie. I found her character, and her whole arc quite dull. The section where we follow just Aesie and Renira was my least favourite of the story. That being said, there were a few dull moments and parts that felt repetitive. Renira’s inner dialogue tends to repeat a lot of what has already been established. The same is true for other characters as well, but Renira’s POV taking up the majority of the word count makes it more noticeable.
Apart from that, there aren’t really any complaints. I can imagine if some readers feel a little underwhelmed by the smaller number of angelic scenes and magical clashes. The majority of the story follows a regular human perspective, leaving the awe-inspiring world of the previous Ages to our imagination. But I believe that is by design. Herald is just setting the stage, so a lot of the epic clashes are bound to happen in the future instalments. I would have loved it if there were more fantastical scenes, but the entire Los Hold sequence, the scene with the Apostle, and the finale (I don’t want to spoil this one) made up for that. They were exactly the kind of kinetic tension and epic pay-offs that I was looking for from Herald.
Lastly, the book is a little slower-paced than I had expected. If you’re not a fan of slower narratives, you might want to brace yourself. That being said, the pay-offs in the end are absolutely worth it, so I’m glad I trudged on through the dull moments.
While the book had some minor issues, I found the ending to be so mind-blowingly epic that it is going to stay with me. Even days after finishing the book, I can’t help but appreciate what Hayes has crafted with Herald. For that reason, I cannot bring myself to give this book anything less than a five.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: blurring lines between good and evil, the battle scenes between Angels against the Godless King and his children, and the finale.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Aesie and her arc, slower pace and fewer scenes featuring Angels in all their glory than I had expected
The God Eater Saga is an ambitious project that Rob J Hayes describes as a trilogy of trilogies. Each trilogy is set in a different Age, with their stories relatively self-contained. But, if you want to experience the truly epic scope of the sage, you’d want to read all three trilogies.
Age of the God Eater is the main trilogy of the lot (going by the word count). Set in the last days of the Fourth Age, Herald follows young Renira who is forced to accompany a motley crew of angels, heretics and survivors who are on a mission to ring in the Fifth Age. What’s at stake? The rebirth of God, and the downfall of the Godless King.
I decided to read the saga in reverse chronology, so I can feel the impact of each discovery I make in the past sagas. So, Herald is my first venture into the world of God Eater.
WHAT I LIKED:
Herald reads like a classic fantasy tale. A typical hero’s journey, Herald starts from the POV of an everywoman—Renira. We read in horror as her world spirals out of control when she is recruited to guide a Fallen Angel, Armstar, through the forest. What follows is a series of revelations, world expansion, and lore-building that does a fine job of setting up the larger saga.
As the story progresses, you realise this is far from classic fantasy. Expectations are subverted, the ground beneath your feet is snatched and you’re thrown into a grimdark reality that is neither black nor white. You can’t take anything at face value. While you see the majority of the story from Renira’s POV, you also get Emrik’s POV; he’s the God Eater, an immortal king who has killed God, killed many of his angels, and devoured their flesh.
Hayes has balanced these perspectives so well that it’s hard to decide which of the group is the good guys, and which are the villainous demons. Renira’s POV will almost convince you of one side, but Emrik’s POV will sow enough doubt to keep you guessing till the end. That greying of sides is a huge part of why I enjoyed this book. Even though I hadn’t set my mind on who to support, I was left with my jaw hanging when I read the climax sequence. Seriously, it was one of the most mind-blowing things I’ve read this year.
In addition to that, we see so much of the world across this adventure. Each episode expands on the world, giving you glimpses of Ages passed. From tableaus depicting God’s grandeur to remnants of the Godless Kings’ Crusades, to stories and accounts from both sides, Hayes has crafted a world that takes inspiration from Christian mythos, blending it with dark Berserk-like imagery. Now add to the mix a LOTR-like adventure and you get Herald.
The characters were a hit or miss, to be honest. I didn’t exactly like Renira, nor was I able to root for Armstar, Eleseth, Sun, or even Emrik for that matter. However, I found each of their stories very compelling. Enough that I wanted to know where their arcs are headed, and what everything is building up to. I especially loved Armstar and Emrik’s arcs. Hayes makes them both very unlikable in the start, but as the story progresses, their roles become clearer and what they represent in the grander scheme of things is something that is sure to make you feel mind-blown. The same goes for Sun and Borik. I can’t wait to see what Hayes has planned for those two.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
I really did not like Aesie. I found her character, and her whole arc quite dull. The section where we follow just Aesie and Renira was my least favourite of the story. That being said, there were a few dull moments and parts that felt repetitive. Renira’s inner dialogue tends to repeat a lot of what has already been established. The same is true for other characters as well, but Renira’s POV taking up the majority of the word count makes it more noticeable.
Apart from that, there aren’t really any complaints. I can imagine if some readers feel a little underwhelmed by the smaller number of angelic scenes and magical clashes. The majority of the story follows a regular human perspective, leaving the awe-inspiring world of the previous Ages to our imagination. But I believe that is by design. Herald is just setting the stage, so a lot of the epic clashes are bound to happen in the future instalments. I would have loved it if there were more fantastical scenes, but the entire Los Hold sequence, the scene with the Apostle, and the finale (I don’t want to spoil this one) made up for that. They were exactly the kind of kinetic tension and epic pay-offs that I was looking for from Herald.
Lastly, the book is a little slower-paced than I had expected. If you’re not a fan of slower narratives, you might want to brace yourself. That being said, the pay-offs in the end are absolutely worth it, so I’m glad I trudged on through the dull moments.
While the book had some minor issues, I found the ending to be so mind-blowingly epic that it is going to stay with me. Even days after finishing the book, I can’t help but appreciate what Hayes has crafted with Herald. For that reason, I cannot bring myself to give this book anything less than a five.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: blurring lines between good and evil, the battle scenes between Angels against the Godless King and his children, and the finale.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Aesie and her arc, slower pace and fewer scenes featuring Angels in all their glory than I had expected
September 3, 2024
You know how when you read a 785 paged novel in three days and it gives you more questions than answers well that's what happened but it was fun!! I enjoyed every part of it and I will read the rest 8 parts.
May 10, 2024
4.5 Stars
I always wanted to try a book written by Rob J Hayes and i felt its a good thing to start with his new series. Even though there are 3 book 1s written and released, i decided to start with his main series and planning to read chronologically after this and i have to say Rob J Hayes decided to nail it perfectly.
Just as the author had mentioned before, the book has some subtle hints about who is good and who is bad and also there are subtle hints about others motivations. The author nailed on showing just much details to be revealed and when too. The intricacies of the story showed how much the author knows inside out about the story and it also showed his experience as a writer too.
Excited to read the other book 1s of this series and to read his past and his future works as well.
I always wanted to try a book written by Rob J Hayes and i felt its a good thing to start with his new series. Even though there are 3 book 1s written and released, i decided to start with his main series and planning to read chronologically after this and i have to say Rob J Hayes decided to nail it perfectly.
Just as the author had mentioned before, the book has some subtle hints about who is good and who is bad and also there are subtle hints about others motivations. The author nailed on showing just much details to be revealed and when too. The intricacies of the story showed how much the author knows inside out about the story and it also showed his experience as a writer too.
Excited to read the other book 1s of this series and to read his past and his future works as well.
August 30, 2024
Well… good writing. Good story. But… what a slog. The first 10% was great. The last 10% was great. The entire middle was so drawn out with many boring parts. Ugh. Could have shaved 200 pages and not lost anything. But I hear the other books in the series are much shorter so maybe those are better.
Currently reading
August 21, 2024When your villains are more memorable and make more life-altering choices than your protagonist, you have a problem.
This is a trend I've noticed with epic fantasy. Sometimes, when the protagonist is a young woman, she remains coddled and looks up to older characters (father figures mostly, but sometimes it's a mother figure). I'm at approx 50% - the single courageous decision she made early on (fending off a demon) does not change her much. So far she does not have special skills or powers and this might be a deliberate choice to introduce a chosen one that can't be called "Mary Sue", but this backfires since she is protected without giving much in return. She could balance it with personality, but she does not have much of it. She is a passive character; she does not learn. She reacts instead of acting. She does not make her own great mistakes, just the regular ones (You might count Aesie as her great mistake, but this is, again, something that happens to her and not through her). Her only interesting feature is her parentage, which is not something she has any influence over. If she were aware of other events, the trauma would force her to change, but so far she does not know it. Probably in anticipation of a disastrous reveal, but as it is, 50% into the book she does travel but this is not a journey.
I'll pick it up later on because stylistic-wise it is well-written. Renira might develop later on, and the other characters are great (this might be the real source of the problem - she is surrounded by very competent people and very strong personalities). But the real lead character of this story is the villain princess Perel.
This is a trend I've noticed with epic fantasy. Sometimes, when the protagonist is a young woman, she remains coddled and looks up to older characters (father figures mostly, but sometimes it's a mother figure). I'm at approx 50% - the single courageous decision she made early on (fending off a demon) does not change her much. So far she does not have special skills or powers and this might be a deliberate choice to introduce a chosen one that can't be called "Mary Sue", but this backfires since she is protected without giving much in return. She could balance it with personality, but she does not have much of it. She is a passive character; she does not learn. She reacts instead of acting. She does not make her own great mistakes, just the regular ones (You might count Aesie as her great mistake, but this is, again, something that happens to her and not through her). Her only interesting feature is her parentage, which is not something she has any influence over. If she were aware of other events, the trauma would force her to change, but so far she does not know it. Probably in anticipation of a disastrous reveal, but as it is, 50% into the book she does travel but this is not a journey.
I'll pick it up later on because stylistic-wise it is well-written. Renira might develop later on, and the other characters are great (this might be the real source of the problem - she is surrounded by very competent people and very strong personalities). But the real lead character of this story is the villain princess Perel.
October 31, 2024
Wow, this was so good. Definitely up there with one of my favourite books of the year.
Not only was this great as its own book, but grouped with the first books in the 3 series in the saga released at the same time, it was outstanding.
- Demon (Archives of the Godeater) - 5 stars
- Deathless (Annals of the Godeater) - 4 stars
- Herald (Age of the Godeater) - 5 stars
Although the author recommends reading them in order of Age, Annals, Archives, I read them the other way around and I'm pleased I did, as I feel like I already had some background and depth to the history of the story before we got to this age.
I loved that in each book, we became connected to the characters, only to have our view of them twisted in the next book. Both the humans and the angels have done good things and awful things, so who are the good guys? Neither of them? I think if I'd read Herald first, I wouldn't have these questions which I'm now dying to find out the answers to.
Just now the wait for the second books to come out!
Not only was this great as its own book, but grouped with the first books in the 3 series in the saga released at the same time, it was outstanding.
- Demon (Archives of the Godeater) - 5 stars
- Deathless (Annals of the Godeater) - 4 stars
- Herald (Age of the Godeater) - 5 stars
Although the author recommends reading them in order of Age, Annals, Archives, I read them the other way around and I'm pleased I did, as I feel like I already had some background and depth to the history of the story before we got to this age.
I loved that in each book, we became connected to the characters, only to have our view of them twisted in the next book. Both the humans and the angels have done good things and awful things, so who are the good guys? Neither of them? I think if I'd read Herald first, I wouldn't have these questions which I'm now dying to find out the answers to.
Just now the wait for the second books to come out!
January 28, 2025
2.5 rounded up to 3 because authors are cool
Arg. This is amazing world-building and lore partnered with mediocre characters.
First 80pgs, I was so in. But then, dang, I just could not connect with anyone. The MC, for me, just got too whimsical for my taste. One character really shined, but just didn't get anywhere near enough spotlight for me. No idea if and when I will continue this series (and its side series)
Arg. This is amazing world-building and lore partnered with mediocre characters.
First 80pgs, I was so in. But then, dang, I just could not connect with anyone. The MC, for me, just got too whimsical for my taste. One character really shined, but just didn't get anywhere near enough spotlight for me. No idea if and when I will continue this series (and its side series)
July 14, 2024
Abolutely cracking read - will add review later
April 8, 2024
What an incredible story… For the most part completely unpredictable and the last 20% was so incredible. The fight scenes were so intense and the second guessing of everything was just *chefs kiss*. Rob is just a master at world and character building. I promise you, this is shaping up to be an epic story, get in while you can!
April 7, 2024
Herald was an amazing journey in a dark world littered with amazing world building and morally grey characters. I found myself rooting for all the characters on both sides of the field and was fully emersed through the entire book. I was sad to see it end and will be eagerly awaiting book 2.
As of April, this is my favorite book of 2024 and God Eater will be a must read on release.
As of April, this is my favorite book of 2024 and God Eater will be a must read on release.
June 9, 2024
I got intrigued by the concept of three trilogies being written in parallel and gave Herald a try. I'm glad that i haven't read Deathless and Demon yet. This way, history is slowly getting revealed to the reader, but you never quite know who is right. Victors wrote the history here and I am very curious to find out what really happened and who altered it (more).
Onto Deathless now and count me in for the next set.
Onto Deathless now and count me in for the next set.
April 7, 2024
Wow, that was so exquisite, intriguing, and brilliant. You always know when you pick up a Rob J. Hayes book, you are in for one hell of blood drenched adventure. I've read a lot from this author, and this is absolutely my favourite, so far.
Herald is the first book in the Age of The GodEater trilogy, and it's part of 9 book saga. It's just one of those books that captivates your mind with its rich worldbuilding, lore, and its history of the ages that have come and gone with war raging between humanity, angels, and demons.
Herald is a fast-paced, action-packed romp full of twists, and turns that just leave you literally blind sided. Rob J. Hayes has created a fantastic dark world with epic stakes and epic titan battles between Immortals and Angels.
I was fully emersed in this wonderful woven tale and intricate prose. Hayes is one of the best at writing morally grey characters, and this story is riddled with them, and you will find yourself in a love-hate with them as the story unfolds.
The Godless King Emerick has ruled Helsia with an iron fist for a thousand years after the crusades and the fall of heaven, gaining immortality from killing and eating God's flesh. His mission is to kill all angel kind and store their divine blood and flesh and eradicate them from the world before the Herald can ring in the fifth age and bring back God.
Our main protagonist, Renira Washer, a young girl from a small village, has always wanted to be a hero and go on adventures, and she might just get her wish when an angel turns up and her life is changed forever when she is thrown into a war between heaven and earth and if she never really believed in God and angels, she does now.
I can't wait for book two. After that ending and cliffhanger, book two can't come quick enough. If you haven't checked out Rob J. Hayes books yet, I very highly recommend that you do...😁🔥
Herald is the first book in the Age of The GodEater trilogy, and it's part of 9 book saga. It's just one of those books that captivates your mind with its rich worldbuilding, lore, and its history of the ages that have come and gone with war raging between humanity, angels, and demons.
Herald is a fast-paced, action-packed romp full of twists, and turns that just leave you literally blind sided. Rob J. Hayes has created a fantastic dark world with epic stakes and epic titan battles between Immortals and Angels.
I was fully emersed in this wonderful woven tale and intricate prose. Hayes is one of the best at writing morally grey characters, and this story is riddled with them, and you will find yourself in a love-hate with them as the story unfolds.
The Godless King Emerick has ruled Helsia with an iron fist for a thousand years after the crusades and the fall of heaven, gaining immortality from killing and eating God's flesh. His mission is to kill all angel kind and store their divine blood and flesh and eradicate them from the world before the Herald can ring in the fifth age and bring back God.
Our main protagonist, Renira Washer, a young girl from a small village, has always wanted to be a hero and go on adventures, and she might just get her wish when an angel turns up and her life is changed forever when she is thrown into a war between heaven and earth and if she never really believed in God and angels, she does now.
I can't wait for book two. After that ending and cliffhanger, book two can't come quick enough. If you haven't checked out Rob J. Hayes books yet, I very highly recommend that you do...😁🔥
July 23, 2024
Rating: 3
A good start to a trilogy but pretty flawed. A lot of the set up and actual plot of Herald is pretty standard high fantasy. This combined with unnecessary reiteration of exposition began to grate on me after a while. Some of the dialogue also felt a little heavy handed and could have been rephrased a bit more naturally. The most interesting parts of the book are when Hayes challenges the reader to sift through the contrasting narratives surrounding the central conflict. I was constantly shifting what side I was supporting and after finishing herald I’m still unsure who is in the right. There’s also some really interesting stand out characters, Emirk in particular is extremely compelling.
The main protagonist Renira is extremely naive, and has very little agency for most of the book so it took a bit of time for her to grow on me. (It doesn’t help that she constantly reiterates how this adventure was “not like she imagined”). I could see a lot of my issues with Renira being resolved depending on what direction Hayes takes the character in future installments.
Overall I enjoyed Herald. The magic system is sick, there’s some really interesting characters and the exploration of how information interpreted and passed down through long periods of time is fascinating. I plan on reading Deathless and Demon and look forward to seeing some of the foundational events of the world.
A good start to a trilogy but pretty flawed. A lot of the set up and actual plot of Herald is pretty standard high fantasy. This combined with unnecessary reiteration of exposition began to grate on me after a while. Some of the dialogue also felt a little heavy handed and could have been rephrased a bit more naturally. The most interesting parts of the book are when Hayes challenges the reader to sift through the contrasting narratives surrounding the central conflict. I was constantly shifting what side I was supporting and after finishing herald I’m still unsure who is in the right. There’s also some really interesting stand out characters, Emirk in particular is extremely compelling.
The main protagonist Renira is extremely naive, and has very little agency for most of the book so it took a bit of time for her to grow on me. (It doesn’t help that she constantly reiterates how this adventure was “not like she imagined”). I could see a lot of my issues with Renira being resolved depending on what direction Hayes takes the character in future installments.
Overall I enjoyed Herald. The magic system is sick, there’s some really interesting characters and the exploration of how information interpreted and passed down through long periods of time is fascinating. I plan on reading Deathless and Demon and look forward to seeing some of the foundational events of the world.
Want to read
May 11, 2024I'm not familiar at all with this author, but Petrik's review of Demon made me want to discover The God Eater Saga as soon as Herald, Deathless and Demon will be released!
February 7, 2025
Herald is the start of a trilogy of trilogies where God is dead, the king is immortal, and humans steal the power of angels by eating their flesh. Sign me up.
I am fascinated with the concept of this project. So far, Hayes has released the first books of three interconnected trilogies. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater. Demon is the first book in the Archive of the God Eater. And Herald is the first of the Age of the God Eater series. If Herald is "the present," Deathless and Demon take place a thousand years earlier and three thousand years earlier, respectively. Since immortals are involved, we'll likely see at least a few recurring characters in each series.
This. World. Is. RICH! Hayes has gone over and above to build out a dynamic world with an expansive history and fascinating features. The sky is red. Demons stalk the deep forests. The king has been alive and reigning for a thousand years. And a young washer girl's life is about to drastically change when an angel with ruined wings shows up on her doorstep with a promise of adventure.
In short, Herald is a coming-of-age epic fantasy story about a young girl and her entanglement with a deadly prophecy. I don't particularly like travel fantasy. This is one of the FEW stories that spend a large chunk of the book with a traveling party that I was okay with. There was only a time or two when I got bored. The rest of the time, I was locked in. The characterizations, the fight scenes, the drama--it's all exquisitely done. It's super fantasy and very emo, but it all worked for me.
If the rest of the books are as good as this one, I'm sat. This could potentially end up as one of my favorite epics. I need me some more angel blood!
P.S. I backed this book on Kickstarter and my name is included in the back of the book!
I am fascinated with the concept of this project. So far, Hayes has released the first books of three interconnected trilogies. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater. Demon is the first book in the Archive of the God Eater. And Herald is the first of the Age of the God Eater series. If Herald is "the present," Deathless and Demon take place a thousand years earlier and three thousand years earlier, respectively. Since immortals are involved, we'll likely see at least a few recurring characters in each series.
This. World. Is. RICH! Hayes has gone over and above to build out a dynamic world with an expansive history and fascinating features. The sky is red. Demons stalk the deep forests. The king has been alive and reigning for a thousand years. And a young washer girl's life is about to drastically change when an angel with ruined wings shows up on her doorstep with a promise of adventure.
In short, Herald is a coming-of-age epic fantasy story about a young girl and her entanglement with a deadly prophecy. I don't particularly like travel fantasy. This is one of the FEW stories that spend a large chunk of the book with a traveling party that I was okay with. There was only a time or two when I got bored. The rest of the time, I was locked in. The characterizations, the fight scenes, the drama--it's all exquisitely done. It's super fantasy and very emo, but it all worked for me.
If the rest of the books are as good as this one, I'm sat. This could potentially end up as one of my favorite epics. I need me some more angel blood!
P.S. I backed this book on Kickstarter and my name is included in the back of the book!
August 1, 2024
I haven’t had a 5star in awhile this book was sooo good at many things but the world building here is second to none honestly like on a Sanderson level this was my first Rob j Hayes book and man I was not familiar with his game he is a master at making you feel immersed in this world …
The characters are extremely layered in this story as well Sun, Raniera, Gemp , Borik, Peral, Emrik, and that’s just a few they all have deep backstory and motivation so this is also a masterclass in character.
The plot keeps you wondering and guessing the entire book I looked forward to reading it everyday, 788 pages never was bored
Great set up for book 2 as well this will truly be a epic the way he sets up the reveals throughout the story makes you want to know more and I can’t wait
With all that being said I have to give this 5 stars
The characters are extremely layered in this story as well Sun, Raniera, Gemp , Borik, Peral, Emrik, and that’s just a few they all have deep backstory and motivation so this is also a masterclass in character.
The plot keeps you wondering and guessing the entire book I looked forward to reading it everyday, 788 pages never was bored
Great set up for book 2 as well this will truly be a epic the way he sets up the reveals throughout the story makes you want to know more and I can’t wait
With all that being said I have to give this 5 stars
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